Gas lift pump



G. DENMAN GAS LIFT PUMP June 7, 1932.

Original Filed Jan. 30, 1929 DENMN.

7 L /3 N g r-f 77p/ INveNtoa:

GEORGE E. l

BYArrv.-

Patented June 7, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application ledJanuary 30, 1929, Serial No. 336,098. Renewed November 13, 1931.

This invention relates to improvements in gas or air lift pumps, and itsobjects are to provide a simple and eiiicient pump, capable 4of pumpingoil, gas, or water out of deep 5 wells by means of compressed air orgas; thel pump set forth herein being an improvement on the device shownin United States Patent No. 1,322,483, issued to me on the 18th day ofNovember, 1919.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pump with a joint seattherein, whereby the entire pump mechanism may be pulled out of the Wellwithoutvdisturbing the outer casing, for repairing or replacing partsand valves. l

Another object is to provide in the pump pipe line, one or more boostervalves whereby the deep well pumps may be operated with a lower pressurethan would be required if no booster valves be used.

While the drawing illustrates an embodiment of the invention, it is tobe understood that in adapting the same tomeet different requirements,various changes in the form, 25 proportions and minor details ofconstruc- 'tion may be resorted to without departing from the nature ofthe invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

The principle exemplified in this improved pumping mechanism is that ofapplying an accelerating lifting force at points intermediate the intakeand discharge ports, and between the initial application of force andthe final discharge nozzle whereby minimum air pressure, or gaspressure, will lift a maximum quantity of oil, gas, water, or liquidthat is to be pumped.

- In the drawing: Eigure 1 is a vertical sectional view of my improvedpumping mechanism.' Fig. 2 is an enlarged and fragmentary sectional viewshowing a modified form of certain of the operative parts.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the well casing 3 extends below thewater or air level, 15 and has at the bottom, a perforated tubing 4, andis representative of any deep well casing.

or maximum lifting capacity with minimum air lift, or gas lift pressure,my improved pumping mechanism consists of an outer casing 5, a unionmember 6, a reducing couplinoP 7, a conduit tubing 8 which extendsupwardly, and'a supporting cap 9, through which discharge tubing 8extends, secured to the top of the well casing. Outer casing 5 isprovided at the bottom with a check valve 10, serving to control theflow of water, gas,

or oil, into the casing. At the top of casing 5, there is provided aAbushing chamber 11, having apertures 12, which serve to admit air or gaspressure from chamber 13, formed by upper conduit tubing 8, into chamber14, formed by outer casing 5. An inner and concentric casing 15, extendsfrom bushing member 11, downwardly, and terminates adjacent to valve 10,and has, at the bottom, a similar check-valve 16. Casing 15 has,adjacent to bushin member 11, a concentric pressure nozzle 1 arranged toadmit gas or Y air pressure from chamber 14, into the inner casing.Bushing member l1 is made with a 70 tapermg joi'nt connection with asupporting sleeve 18, fixed to outlet conduit 19, extending upwardly andthrough a closure cap 20, on the upper extremity of conduit tubing 8.

The initial lifting pressure is admitted through nozzle 17 to outletconduit 19, and is admitted to upper chamber 13 through pressure intakepipe 21, which is connected to a suitable pump 22. To accelerate theflow through outlet conduit 19, there is provided, at one or moreintermediate points, the booster valve 23, which consists of a sleevemember 24, having therein the apertures 25 to admit the pressure intoconduit 19 beneath a check-valve 26, which has a ball valve member 27,retained within sleeve member 24, by a pin 28.

In the modified form in Fig. 2, the supporting sleeve 18 is slightlysmaller in diameter than the inner diameter'of conduit tub- 90 ing 8,thereby allowing the outlet conduit 19, together with the booster valvesthat may be interposed therein,` and inner pump casing 15, which hasscrew connection with sleeve 18, together with nozzle 17, andcheck-valve 16, to be withdrawn without disturbing the outer pumpcasing.

It may be seen that apertures 30 are provided in supporting sleeve 18.These apertures are normally closed by plugs 34. The

nozzle 17 is shown as provided with a closing plug 29, but is normallyopen. The apertures 32 are normally closed by plugs 33.

Apertures 12, in bushing member 11, are

vthe plugs 34 removed from apertures 30,

causing the pressure in the outer chamber to be admitted at this point.

Assuming the device is to be used in the ordinary manner, the apertures30 and 32 are normally closed, and the nozzle 17 and apertures 12 arenormally open. The pump then operates as follows: The check-valves 10and 16 are located below the water or oil level,

'as the case may be. Air or gas pressure is then pumped into chamber 13,and passes through apertures 12 into chamber-14. The fluid medium thatis to be lifted is forced by the pressure to pass through valve 16, and

is then entrained by the flow of air or gas through nozzle 17, and isforced upwardly through the outlet conduit 19. In accordance with thedepth of the well, there will be one or more of the booster valves 23,which admit the air or gas to iow through apertures 25, and into conduit19, thereby accelerating the low of the fluid medium passing upwardlytherethrough The check-valves provided prevent the oil or water fromdropping back immediately when the air pressure is exhausted, andtherefore it is not necessary to again lift the same on resumingoperation of the pump.

The air or gas pump set fort-h herein embodies the advantages of theaccessibility of all working parts without disturbing the outer casing,and the interposition of accelerating and boosting means at successivepoints along the outlet conduit whereby a lower working pressure isrequired for the appa-v ratus. By inserting certain of the plugs incertain apertures, 'and by removing others from other apertures, theapparatus may be adapted for various purposes.

What is claimed is:

1. In an air or gas lift displacement pump, the combination with anouter casing adapted to extend from top to the bottom ofa well and toenclose a pressure chamber, a closure cap at the top of the outercasing, and a checkvalve at the bottom of the outer casing, of aremovable inner outlet conduit extending within the outer casing, acheck-valve at the. lower extremity of the inner outlet conduit andadjacent to the first-named check-valve within the outer casing, apressure nozzle within and concentric with the lower portion of theinner outlet conduit, means for admitting air or gas pressure to thechamber formed by theouter casing and inner conduit, and booster valvesdisposed along the inner` v check-'valve at the bottom of the inneroutlet conduit and adjacent to the first-named check-valve, means foradmitting air or gas pressure to the chamber formed by the outer casingand inner conduit, and means for admitting the Aair or gas pressure fromsaid chamber into the inner conduit at intervals along the lengththereof, and a nozzle adjacent to the bottom of the inner conduit foradmitting the air or gas pressure therein.

3. In an air or gas lift displacement pump, the combination with anoutercasing adapted to extend within a Well and beneath the level of thefluid medium therein, of a closure cap on the upper extremity of theouter casing, a check-valve disposed at the bottom of the outer casingto control the flow of fluid medium therein, a removable inner conduitextending concentrically within theouter casing and forming an annularchamber there.

with, means for admitting air or gas pressure within the annularchamber, a checkvalve at the bottom of the inner conduit, a pressurenozzle within and adjacent to the bottom of the inner conduit and incommunication with the annular chamber, and other check-valves disposedalong the length of the inner conduit and arranged for admitting thepressure therein.

4. In an air or gas lift displacement pump, the combination with anouter casing adapted to extend within an oil, gas or water well. andbeneath the level of the fluid medium therein, of a closure cap disposedat the top of the outer casing, a check-valve disposed at the bottom ofthe outer casing, a removable inner outlet conduit extending within theouter casing, a check-valve at the bottom of the inner outlet conduitand adjacent to the first-named check-valve, means for admitting the airpressure or gas pressure to the chamber formed by the outer casing andinner outlet conduit, an initial nozzle for admitting the pressurewithin said chamber into the inner outlet conduit adjacent to the bottomthereof, and means for admitting the air or gas pressure from saidchamber into the inner conduit along the length thereof without puttingpressure on the well casing or adjacent soil formation.

Signed this 24 day of December, 1928.

` GEORGE E. DENMAN.

